Last fall junior linebacker Shayne Hale of Monroeville, Pa., made an unofficial visit to Notre Dame when the Irish hosted Penn State. Notre Dame recently returned the favor, trekking to Gateway High School to check out the 6-foot-3, 218-pound prospect.

Notre Dame joins Michigan, Ohio State, Tennessee, Rutgers, Virginia, North Carolina and several other schools that have extended scholarship offers to the Rivals.com junior All-American.